IN HIS CAPACITY

Then said the king unto her, what wilt thou, queen Esther? And what is thy request? It shall be given thee to the half of the kingdom.  Esther 5:3

King Ahasuerus pledged to give to Esther whatever she wanted up to half of his kingdom.  He made the promise in his capacity as the king with authority that cannot be challenged by anyone.  If he pronounces half of the kingdom released to Esther, no one would have questioned him.

Esther 1:1-8 gives a picture of the wealth of King Ahasuerus.  If Esther, a formal slave girl was given half of the kingdom, her destiny would have experienced glorious transformation.

And he sware unto her whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.  Mark 6:23

That also was the word of King Herod to his young daughter that danced before him.  He made the promise and had the power to fulfill it in his capacity as the king.

Ahasuerus and Herod made the promise in their capacity as kings.  We do not doubt their ability to deliver since no one would dare stand against their decision.  We are also sure that if given, the destiny of the one that got half of the kingdom would permanently be transformed.  Let us ask ourselves, what transformation should we expect of a man that the Lord blesses in his capacity as the maker of heaven and the earth?

I wish you can ask the Lord to bless you in his capacity as the God of the universe.  If he does, no one will be able to stop it and then you will experience a glorious transformation.

We should however note that Esther was the queen to king Ahasuerus while the promise of King Herod was to his daughter.  The promise of half of their kingdom was to the one with whom they had wonderful relationship.  If you prayed for God to bless you in his capacity, we should ask if you have relationship with him to deserve such release.

REMEMBER THOSE IN THE MANGER

And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  Luke 2:7

By the experience of Mary, it is obvious that it is not everyone that will have access to the “inn” of life.  The “inn” here represents comfort while the “manger” represents deplorable conditions.  Those that do not have the opportunity to the “inn” must also survive.  People improvise to ensure survival at all cost.  Such was the experience of Mary who made do with the manger because there was no room for her in the inn.  It is therefore not a good thing for those in the “inn” to see those in the “manger” as fools or not intelligent.  Circumstance beyond the control of many led them to the “manger”.  If they are given the opportunity, they will prefer to be in the “inn”.

The birth of Jesus in the manger reveals the deplorable situation to which so many people are subjected.  We see around us most people living in situations that can best be described as manger.  They give birth there, live and earn a living there.  Some are privileged to survive while some are not so lucky.

I do not dispute the fact that God may have decided that Jesus comes through such a humble manner.  My concern is for those whose situation seems permanent in the manger, that is, those that lives below the minimum standard of living.  Though Jesus came through the manger and yet fulfilled his destiny, how many of those having manger experience around us are fulfilling their God’s given destiny?

I want to encourage everyone reading this to refocus attention on those that Jesus used his coming to identify and sympathize with, that is, those in the manger.  Those that give birth under deplorable conditions, for lack of fund to seek proper health care.  Those not sure of where their next meal will come from.  Those displaced by war and/or disasters and others under all forms of deplorable conditions.

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.  The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive: and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou will not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.  The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.  Psalm 41:1-3.